Yamaichi Metal Exhibits at DESIGNTIDE TOKYO with the “Alumi-Novate Project”

AlumInnovate Project: Creating Infinite Cycles

DESIGNTIDE TOKYO

DESIGNTIDE TOKYO is a design event that began in 2005, following in the spirit of earlier happenings such as HAPPENING and TOKYO DESIGNERS BLOCK held in Tokyo during the 1990s and early 2000s.

Each year, around 50 groups of designers—including 3 to 4 invited creators and others selected through open applications—gather under the theme of “a place to trade ideas.” Rather than focusing on commercially driven design, the event emphasizes creativity and showcases works that reflect the designers’ individual thinking, introducing new “tides” in the design world.

Young architects and designers are also invited to take part in spatial design, making the venue itself a platform for artistic expression. By experiencing the collection of works and the atmosphere in one space, DESIGNTIDE TOKYO offers an opportunity to reflect beyond the conventional boundaries of the word “design.”

Event Overview

Event Name：DESIGNTIDE TOKYO 2024
Venue：Nihonbashi Mitsui Hall
　　　COREDO Muromachi 1, 4th & 5th Floors (Entrance on 4F)
　　　2-2-1 Nihonbashi Muromachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Dates：Wednesday, November 27 – Sunday, December 1, 2024
Opening Hours：November 27 (Wed) – November 30 (Sat): 11:00 – 20:00, December 1 (Sun): 11:00 – 17:00
URL：https://designtide.tokyo/

Product 1: Stool Made from 3104 Recycled Aluminum

We created a stool to demonstrate alternative uses for 3104 recycled aluminum beyond aluminum cans.

Product 2: Compressed and Molded Product Made from 3104 Recycled Aluminum

These molds are typically made of steel, but in this case, we used 3104 recycled aluminum as a substitute. We see this as a potential solution for locally upcycling various types of waste into useful products.

Product 3: Aluminum Clay Made from 3104 Recycled Aluminum

Inspired by the existence of silver clay used in jewelry making, we came up with the idea of aluminum clay—enabling designers to prototype aluminum pieces using an oven or kiln.

Unfortunately, our experiments did not produce usable results. However, we believe that the technical issue of oxidation could be overcome with support from a specialized metallurgy laboratory.

Project Members

Produce
- Takeyuki Oga（Yamaichi Metal Co., Ltd.）
Creative Direction
- Matthew Waldman（Keio University Graduate School of Media Design, SAMCARA Design Lab）
- Hiroko Takahashi（Artist）
Project Management
- Yuki Minegishi（Researcher, Keio University Graduate School）
Design Team
- Alan Nguyen（Keio University Graduate School of Media Design, SAMCARA Design Lab）
- Jiashin “Nick” Zhu（Keio University Graduate School of Media Design, SAMCARA Design Lab）

Yamaichi Metal Co., Ltd.

Yamaichi Metal Co., Ltd. was established in May 1961 and has been contributing to the realization of a sustainable society through aluminum recycling. The company is dedicated to recovering aluminum resources, supporting next-generation technological advancement, and actively participating in environmental conservation initiatives.

Yamaichi Metal’s commitment to quality and environmental responsibility is reflected in the work of all employees—from manufacturing to accounting—embodying the company’s mission to build a stable and prosperous organization. In 2021, the company celebrated its 60th anniversary and renewed its symbol mark and logotype, symbolizing its unwavering commitment to coexistence and prosperity, as well as its forward-looking approach to addressing a wide range of societal challenges.

Matthew Waldman

Founder of NOOKA: Revolutionized interface design for physical products.
Design Philosophy: Explores the universality of form as a language.
Current Position: Professor at Keio University Graduate School of Media Design (KMD).
Conducts research on circular design, materials science, and biodesign at the Samcara Lab.

Hiroko Takahashi

Artist / Studied traditional dyeing and weaving at Tokyo University of the Arts, where she completed her doctoral program. In addition to creating artworks using kimono as a medium of expression, she has led a wide range of projects including global collaborations with adidas and IKEA, as well as designing the official uniforms for the U.S. golf team at the Tokyo Olympics.
Currently serves as Professor in the Department of Craft and Industrial Design at Musashino Art University.